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"What's here, Martin, are ye sick?" he questioned

"A vertigo!" I mu, I got hty comfort and refreshment, while Ada off his hold "'Twas nought--I'll go sleep again" And waiting for no more I stumbled down the quarter-ladder; but even as I went, the haze see my way to the ship's side I sank across the bulwark and was , Iain I crept away into a dark corner and castthus inhard by, a desolate sobbing very pitiful to hear Inso whence this sobbing proceeded, presently ca, saas a little lad At my step he started to his knees, elbow upraised as if expecting a blow

"Why d'ye weep, boy?" I questioned "What's your trouble?"

"Nowt!" says he, cowering away; but taking hiht of a swinging lanthorn, and looked into a sured by cuts and bruises wrought by some brutal hand

"Who did this?" I de a sob

"Who are you?"

"'Tween-decks boy"

"How old are you, child?"

At this he stared up at ed sleeve broke into convulsive sobbing

"What now?" says I, drawing him beside me "What now?"

"She used to call rief choked him Now as I looked down upon this little, pitiful creature, I forgot er

"Boy," said I, "who's been flogging you--speak!"

"Red Andy," he gasped, "'e be always a' doin' of it 'e be--wish I was dead like my mother!"

"Jiloo, will 'ee--" Here (and before I could stay hi his tears as he ran Now as I lay there I kicked off my shoes and hearkened expectant Thus, all at once I heard a etting to my feet I crept stealthily forward Past main and foremasts I crept, past dark store-roodice and beyond them the boy, his hands lashed miserably to a staple in the bulkhead, his little body writhing under the cruel blows of a rope's-end wielded by a great, red-headed fellow